Chapter 829: Inquiries and Old Affairs
Chapter 829: Inquiries and Old Affairs
The unusual changes outside were not lost on the person at the deepest part of the pot tent, who now stood in the spacious corridor, the curtains parting to reveal a tall figure.
Chen Chuan saw a woman who appeared to be in her early twenties, with her hair tied in a single ponytail that fell all the way to her heels. She stood over two meters tall, with a well-proportioned, muscular build, her body honed through rigorous training. Beneath her skin, she exuded power like flowing water.
This woman was the same one he had seen in the memory potion, and she hadn't changed much since then, indicating that her physical strength and abilities had remained at their peak.
Out of politeness, he didn't use his fighter's field or spirit to observe her further. After a glance, he averted his gaze, nodded, and said, "Senior Fang."
Fang Zhuoying was surprised by his words. Chen Chuan had sent her a telegram beforehand, introducing himself as Yu Zhen's son. He had learned of her whereabouts from his senior, Ni, and wanted to visit and seek her guidance on some matters.
Initially, she thought this junior had come to learn fighting techniques from her.
She remembered Yu Zhen as a talented and determined disciple, qualities she admired. So, she thought that Yu Zhen's son might have a similar passion for fighting techniques, and she was willing to mentor him if he showed talent and perseverance.
But when she saw him in person, she realized her mistake.
Although he concealed his field, she felt an overwhelming pressure from him, causing a shiver deep within her.
This was a warning from the Divergence Organization, urging her to stay away from this individual who posed an extreme threat to her. It wasn't something she could control with her will, and the more she trained her Divergence Organization, the stronger this perception became. She had encountered similar individuals before, so she knew what it signified.
She stared at Chen Chuan's youthful and handsome face, and his eyes, dark as lacquer. Taking a deep breath, she spoke with utmost seriousness, "I never imagined that Yu Zhen's son would be a fighter!"
She continued, "If I had known a fighter was coming, I should have prepared earlier. Please forgive my rudeness." With that, she clasped her hands together and bowed towards him.
Chen Chuan slightly sidestepped and returned the gesture, saying, "Senior Fang, you are too kind."
But Fang Zhuoying spoke earnestly, "Every fighter deserves the utmost respect, as it is our way of honoring the art and power of combat."
Fighters held an extraordinary status in the old era, often referred to as Martial Sages or Earth Immortals by the common folk. Many old-era fighting schools aspired to reach these heights.
Achieving this level meant that one's body and spirit had endured unimaginable trials and tempering, attaining true perfection.
Transcending this realm meant entering a non-human level, setting oneself apart from ordinary people, even being considered a different species. The rules of the ordinary world no longer applied to such individuals, and old-era courtesies held little significance when facing them.
Although Fang Zhuoying and Yu Zhen had a teacher-student relationship, Chen Chuan did not. He had never received her grace or favor, and while he was polite, she couldn't take it too seriously, especially as someone with a deep passion for the martial path. She couldn't afford to be even slightly rude when facing someone of such achievement.
She immediately wanted to close the pot tent, decline to receive other guests, and light all the pot chant flowers in the tent—flowers that bloomed once every fifty years as a sign of respect and reverence for esteemed guests.
Chen Chuan understood her intentions and said, "Senior Fang, I have my own matters to attend to here and don't plan on letting too many people know."
Fang Zhuoying realized her oversight and said apologetically, "I was being inconsiderate."
With her experience, she understood that a fighter's presence here was not without reason. Perhaps his visit was just an excuse, and she had recently heard about unresolved issues between the Besa Khanate and the Daxun government. This so-called matter might involve negotiations between the two countries.
She spoke solemnly, "Please, Mr. Chen, enter the tent and let us talk."
Chen Chuan nodded, and with her leading the way, he entered the inner tent. He sat on a low-backed carpeted seat, and Fang Zhuoying clapped her hands, signaling for someone to bring silver jugs of mare's milk and red rose tea, which were placed on the side, and incense was lit.
In Balkutu, offering mare's milk and red rose tea to guests was customary, even at the most prestigious banquets. Fighters, however, typically abstained from alcohol. Fang Zhuoying poured a cup of honey-scented red rose tea for Chen Chuan and offered it to him with a bow.
Chen Chuan took a sip from the cup and said, "Senior Fang, I've come here to inquire about my mother's past."
Fang Zhuoying would respond, "Do you mean Yu Zhen's disappearance?"
"Master, do you know about this?"
Fang Zhuoying spoke earnestly, "If Mr. Chen is asking about this matter, I'm afraid you might be disappointed. At the time, although I was still in the country, I heard about this incident. However, I'm not clear about the details."
"I've taught many students, but I only guide them onto the path of combat. How they choose to walk that path afterward is not something I interfere with or inquire about excessively. At the time, I heard that Xiao Zhen was responsible for a security mission, escorting an important figure, whose identity I'm not sure of. I only know that she and that person disappeared together. I learned this from other students, so these messages may be somewhat distorted."
Chen Chuan nodded. This disappearance was also something he needed to clarify, but currently, he had to find another clue first.
"From the information left in the past, I learned that my mother had invited a teacher to teach me combat techniques, but this person never appeared. I think if this person is still alive, they might know something."
Based on the information, he deduced that this teacher was close to his mother and was likely a fellow disciple from the past. They had both studied under the same master, so he wanted to ask the master if she knew which fellow disciple had a close relationship with his mother.
Fang Zhuoying paused for a moment, recalling, "Xiao Zhen was very determined and had a typical relationship with many fellow disciples. However, there were two people who were very close to her, a brother and sister. The brother is He Ru Hai, and the sister is He Zhi Lan. The He family's younger sister has average talent, but her perseverance is comparable to Xiao Zhen's. She has a very stubborn streak.
"Her brother, He Ru Hai, is more talented and diligent in his practice, with a solid foundation. He's also honest and steady. According to my knowledge, they remained in close contact with Xiao Zhen later on. So, if Xiao Zhen had asked you to find a teacher from among my disciples, it should be them or one of them."
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment. Regardless of whether these two were the teachers, the fact that they were close to his mother but never visited him after his parents' disappearance, and his aunt never mentioned them, indicated that there was something going on.
Was it simply a reluctance to visit, or an attempt to avoid some danger?
He asked, "Master, do you know where these two are now?"
Fang Zhuoying replied, "Before I left the country, I heard they had been abroad for a while, but according to letters from some of my disciples, they seemed to have returned to Daxun later. It's been over a decade since we last contacted each other."
She had been dedicated to promoting her combat techniques and philosophy. Over the past few decades, she had taught at least a hundred disciples, but she didn't really care about their development afterward.
In the 1990s, a book bar version!
Although Chen Chuan didn't get an accurate location from her, he only needed to know the specific names. After all, with a clear goal, finding people would be much easier.
He expressed his gratitude, "Master, thank you."
Fang Zhuoying said, "Mr. Chen, you're too kind. I'm just sharing what I already know. But there is one thing that Mr. Chen can take back. Please wait a moment."
She stood up, went into the back room, and after a while, she came out and handed Chen Chuan a soft-cover notebook.
"This is what your mother, Xiao Zhen, wrote about her combat insights during her studies with me. When we parted ways, she left this notebook as a memento, but I think it's more appropriate for you to have it."
Chen Chuan took it, opened it, and saw neat and elegant handwriting on the pages. Each stroke was carefully written, and the characters were deeply etched. Just from the notebook, one could sense the writer's meticulous nature.
He touched the slightly indented words with his fingers, feeling the strength and the emotions and will conveyed through them, and his heart couldn't help but resonate with a sense of familiarity and connection.
He raised his head and said, "Thank you, Master. Then I'll take it back."
Fang Zhuoying said earnestly, "This should belong to you, Mr. Chen."
At this moment, Chen Chuan said, "When I came earlier, I saw your disciples using a confrontational training technique. This technique is very profound and must have been summarized and refined by your predecessors. When practiced deeply, it gives the fighter an extremely strong physique and resilient spirit.
"However, various changes revolve around a central principle—to leave no 'gaps.' Gaps refer to both the continuity of combat techniques and the cultivation of one's inner spirit. By eliminating gaps, one can break through the barriers between the body and the spirit, ultimately reaching a state of flawless perfection."
Upon hearing Chen Chuan mention combat, Fang Zhuoying's spirit lifted, and her state became more positive, with a hint of fervor emanating from her.
She sincerely said, "Mr. Chen, you truly live up to being a fighter, recognizing the core essence of our school with just one glance. That's right! The essence of our Uninterrupted School lies in the word 'uninterrupted.'"
Chen Chuan said, "But I feel there's still something missing."
...
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
